Expectations that the Portland Trail Blazers would have any chance in the playoffs after Brandon Roy was sidelined with microscopic surgery on a torn meniscus were slim to none.

However, in game 1 Andre Miller matched Steve Nash nearly point for point and assist for assist, giving Blazer Nation hope while leading a Portland attack exposing a monumental weakness in Phoenix’s armor.

It is safe to say that Portland fans have all but forgotten the growing pains the team experienced after Miller signed a 3-year deal last summer.

Miller is making Portland fans forget the growing pains.

It always pains me when a team cannot live up to the namesake of this blog, but I must point out how poorly Phoenix failed at protecting the paint, which is the cardinal sin to this blogger.

If Phoenix cannot immediately reverse things and adhere to a drastic change in defensive mentality things could be real bad, real quick, for the Suns.

Amare Stoudemire is the Suns only hope of stopping anything in the middle, but he has been historically inadequate in this capacity.

Robin Lopez, who I liken to Sideshow Bob after eating angry pills, was the Suns heart and soul of enforcing defense in the post.

Unfortunately for Phoenix, Lopez is out indefinitely after sustaining a back injury during the end of regular season and is not returning in any foreseeable time frame.

After Stoudemire and Lopez the Suns depth chart are left with only two options: Channing Frye and Jarron Collins.

Collins is so limited offensively that it cripples the Suns. Ironically, Frye’s best defense is to try to combat the Blazers by chucking up loads of 3 point attempts. Both are tragic options.

The Suns allowed Andre Miller and Jerryd Bayless to combine for 49 points on 16 of 27 field goals and 16 of 19 free throws.

Bayless was crucial for the Blazers, supplying direly needed offense to offset the absent Brandon Roy, and his play will be pivotal in Portland surviving long enough in the playoffs to allow Roy to return.

Marcus Camby owned the boards for Portland, snaring 17. This should be a consistent trend during this first round of the Western Conference playoffs. If the Suns cannot find away to rebound (no pun intended) from this glaring weakness, Steve Nash and company might be watching the playoffs at home fairly soon.

The Portland Trail Blazers GM Kevin Pritchard pulled off another masterminded trade, sending Steve Blake and Travis Outlaw to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Marcus Camby.

After injuries to both of Portland’s centers Greg Oden and Joel Pryzbilla, the Trail Blazers have been staying afloat with the elder statesman Juwan Howard. Howard turned 37 earlier this month. It was obvious a move would be made, but this move is a potential season-saver, and will benefit both franchises.

What this trade represents for the Clippers is the opportunity to capitalize and get some talent before Camby skips town.

Outlaw and Blake fill needs left vacant by the injuries to Sebastian Telfair and Blake Griffin, but are by no means capable of helping the Clippers reverse the course of this travesty of a season. It does give GM Mike Dunleavy more pieces to further perplex his long term puzzle.

For Portland the move opens up minutes for Jerryd Bayless and Rudy Fernandez while stabilizing the middle with a strong defender, Marcus Camby.

Camby will undoubtedly accelerate for a playoff team and with stars like Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge, likely making the Blazers improved and tougher defensively.

The Clippers can afford to trade Camby as they have depth at center with All Star Chris Kaman and young and athletic DeAndre Jordan.

I can’t see this trade hurting either team in the short or long term.

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